Sunbrite Ale
Royal Oak Brewery

This was served on tap at Royal Oak Brewery in Royal Oak, Michigan. It arrived in a generic chalice, showing a caramel, apple cider coloring. It held a one finger head of eggshell cream, dissipating into a film across the top of the liquid, with archipelago lacing left dripping down the side. A thick haze held for the entire tasting. The nose suggested notes of sweet granules of sugar, toothpicks, vanilla icing, tropical fruit juice concentrate akin to a mango strawberry orange juice from one of those big commercial behemoths, plastic phenols, musk, fermented and browned apples and light caramel malty airs. The taste gave thin amber and caramel malt toast, with wheat to follow on the back. This grain bill was balanced by a fat bitterness of orange pith and skin, with herbal hops, popcorn crisp, coriander and powdered ginger, dried mango fruitiness, Styrofoam, peanut dust, and damp, moldy cotton. The body was medium, and the carbonation was medium. The mouth was left wet and prickled, with no real coating or dryness. The former was especially lacking as cream and froth were hard to pin down. The abv was appropriate, and this one was more of a sipper.

Overall, although we didn’t love this one, we appreciate how hard they hit you initially with flavor. In speaking with the bartender about this beer, it was explained that generous amounts of orange peel and zest were utilized throughout its brewing process, and we are happy to report that this shows, and shows rather strongly. We appreciate this, but they did overdo it here, taking this layer of bitter orange citrus and plowing over everything in its path, leaving nothing but a freshly paved parking lot where a beautiful garden once stood. If that’s what you’re looking for, great, you’ve found it, but if you’re not into that intense oily bitterness, then you might have trouble stomaching this one. Either way, it is fine to watch this beer evolve from the first sip to the last. As with most, it mellows as it warms, and the subtleties of spice and hops begin to crack through the pavement. This keeps things interesting, but not enough to make it a wonderful beer all around.